Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Presidential assistant to food security and agricultural modernization Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
SEN. VICENTE “Tito” Sotto III, Sen. Ralph Recto and former Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan would lead the senatorial race had the elections been held last week, according to the latest survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) released Wednesday.
The survey, conducted from Dec. 12 to 14, found more than half of voters choosing Sotto (59 percent), Recto (56 percent) and Pangilinan (56 percent).
Following them were former Senators Panfilo Lacson (46 percent) and Juan Miguel Zubiri (40 percent), Senate President Franklin Drilon (39 percent), Sen. Sergio Osmeña III (38 percent), Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao (37 percent) and former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (35 percent).
According to SWS, the last three seats were being contested by former Sen. Richard Gordon (32 percent), Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno (30 percent), Sen. Teofisto Guingona III (28 percent), former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros (26 percent) and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino (24 percent).
“Just outside the bounds of statistical error are Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian (21 percent) and Joel Villanueva (20 percent),” SWS said in a statement.
Behind them were former Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid (19 percent), actor Edu Manzano (15 percent), Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (13 percent), Parañaque Councilor Alma Moreno (13 percent) and Marilou Estrada (12 percent).
The December survey used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 registered voters and had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points.
The question posted to respondents was: “If the elections were to take place today, who will you most probably vote for as senators of the Philippines? Here is a list of names of the candidates. You can mention up to 12 names.”
The respondents were furnished a list of 82 names and gave their answers orally, SWS said. Inquirer Research